Fuse block



Nov. 25, 1941 K. scHMlT'r ETAL 2,264,260

FUSE BLOCK Filed April 2, 1940 y INVENTORS .102 Y@ (we .Karl www 104 MPM/WWW f'arl Vallfef Patented Nov. 25, 1941 4UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUSE BLOCK Kari Schmitt, Stuttgart-Degerloch, and Karl Konrad Volkert, Stuttgart-Korntal, Germany, asaignors to Dr. ing. h. c. F. Porsche K.G.. Stuttgart-Zunenhansen, Germany, a company oi'Germany Application April 2, 1940, Serial No. 327,420 In Germany March 17, 1939 This invention relates to a fuse block and more particularly to one in which the fuses may be readily removed and replaced by voltage reducing resistances, circuit interrupting devices and/or case of air raids must quickly and eiilcaciously have some oi their lighting circuits dimmed, other of their lighting circuits entirely cut out, and still other load circuits unaiected, in accordance with air-protection regulations.

Accordingly. an object oi this invention is to produce an inexpensive device for changing the load circuits in an automobile in a quick and simple manner to comply with air-protection regulations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fuse block from which the fuses may be quickly and simply removed and replaced by the necessary voltage-reducing resistors, circuit cut-out and auxiliary fuse parts, corresponding to the type of loads to which each fuse was originally connected.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a fuse block with a supplementary member, such as a cover, containing voltage-reducing resistors, circuit cut-outs and auxiliary fuses, which may be attached to the fuse block in electrical relationship to the originally protected load cirment and a modiilcation thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of Fig. 2, illustrating a fuse block formed in accordance .with invention and provided with a standard cover;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fuse block with ius-es in place, indicating their connection to various circuits;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of Fig. 2, showing the fuse block with fuses removed and an auxiliary cover 'added thereto, in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2, with fuse removed and auxiliary cover added, similar to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the lines V-V of Fig. 2, with iuse removed and auxiliary cover added, similar to Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line vI-vr of Fig. '1, illustrating a modmed form cuits, only upon removal of all oi' the original vide a fuse block in which voltage-reducing re sistors are automatically inserted in the load circuits upon removal of the fuses.

A more specidc object oi this invention is to provide an arrangement, particularly for automobiles,v wherein the various loads, such as the main headlights, search lights, dimmer lights, parking lights, panel lights, horn, windshield wiper, and the like are supplied through a fuse block, whereby, upon removal of the fuses a supplementary member may be added to the fuse block in contacting juxtaposition thereto in such a manner as to insure removal of all of the original fuses from the block, while entirely cutting out certain loads, such as the search lights and the main headlights, inserting dimming resistors in other loads, such as the dimming, parking and panel lights, and inserting auxiliary fuses in other circuits to be unaffected. such as the horn and windshield wiper.

These and other features, capabilities and ad vantages of the invention will appear from the of fuse block; and

Fig. '1 is plan view of the modied form of fuse block illustrated in Fig. 6.

In thenrst form of the invention illustrated Figs. 1-5 inclusive, the fuse block is preferably provided with a number of terminals, nve such terminals, I-- inclusive being shown by way oi example. Each of these terminals, may be respectively provided with contact springse, 1, 8, 9 and In which are adapted to respectively press fuses Il, i2, I3, i4 and Il into contact with another set of respectively cooperating terminals I6, il, i8, i9 and 20. Current is adapted to be supplied to the terminals i, 2; 3, 4 and 5 in any ordinary well-known manner (not shown), while the corresponding terminals I B, i1, Il, I9 and 20 are to be connected lto various loads. In the case oi "anautomobile, arid-[merely by way of example, various', loads have` been indicated as connected to'fth'e'f 'terminals' it to 2li incl. For example, the load 2| may ber the main distance headlight of the vehicle, connected to the terminal I9; 22 may be a spot light connected to the terminal il; 23 may be the panel or gauge lights connected to the terminal i8; 2l may be the dimmer or parking lights connected to the terminal i8; while 25 may be other loads such as the horn and windshield wiper motor connected to the terminal 20. A suitable cover D is preferably added to the fuse block as a protection for the fuses and the contacts, and this may be attached to the block through the use of a special screw 21 cooperating with a threaded bushing 26 on the fuse block itself.

In the case of an air raid, it is necessary that for the sake of safety, most all of the loads such as indicated in Fig. 2, be modied to some extent. It is suflicient that in some of the lighting loads, such for example as the panel lights and the dimmer lights, only voltage-reducing means such as resistors be inserted in the circuits to still further dim the lighting loads. In the case of other loads, such as the bright headlights 'and spot lights, most air-protection regulations require that these be entirely extinguished, and the circuits thereto should accordingly be entirely broken. In thecase of other loads, such as those comprising the horn and windshield Wiper motor, no change is necessary. In order to aiect the changes in loads in a simple but yet positive manner, in accordance with this invention we provide an auxiliary cover, D', more specifically illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The formation of the cover D' in its relationship to the lighting loads which need to be merely dimmed, is particularly illustratedV in Fig. 3. The cover at this point contains a member upon which a resistance 29 is mounted and interconnected at its ends with spring contacts 3 and I0' which, when the cover is fully applied, will electrically connect the resistor 29 across the block terminals 3 and I8. It is to be additionally noted that the resistor carrier 28 is p'rovided with a projection 30 which extends into the space between the contact spring 3 and the terminal I9 normally occupied by a fuse, in the illustrated case the fuse I3. Accordingly, it is absolutely necessary to remove the fuse I3 before the cover D' can be added. Therefore, when the cover D is added one can be absolutely sure that, for example, the panel light 23 will have the diming resistor 29 serially connected therewith. A similar resistor and type of interconnection will be provided at all of those points in the cover where it is desired to dim the respectively connected loads. For example, a similar resistor would replace the fuse I4 in the circuit to the dimmer light 2l. The proper value of the resistor can, of course, be correlated with the size of the loads to be dimmed, in a manner which will be at once apparent to those skilled in this art.

For those loads, such as the main headlights and spot lights, whose total extinguishment during air raids is absolutely necessary, the cover D' is formed as illustrated in Fig. 4. In this part of the cover, as for example, that part cooperatjecting rib 3| which will extend into the space between the contact spring 6 and the terminal I6 where the fuse would -ordinarily be positioned. In this manner, removal of the fuse and total extinguishment of the main headlamp 2| is assured. The cover will be similarly formed at other points where total extinguishment of the lamp load is desired, as for example, across the terminals 2 and I1 leading to the spot light 22.

In the case of those loads which are not to be alected, for example, the load circuits leading to the windshield wiper motor and the horn 25, the cover is preferably formed as illustrated in Fig. 5. At this point the cover D' supports an 75 auxiliary fuse I5', held in place between contact springs 32 and 33. Conducting spring extensions 20 and 5 respectively electrically interconnect the contact spring 33 with the terminal 20 and the contact spring 32 with the terminal 5. The circuit to the load 25 is thus completed through the fuse I5'. At the same time removal of the original fuse I5 is assured by the provision of a projecting member 34 connected to the cover, which will extend into space between the contact spring l0 and the terminal 20.

It will thus be seen that by means of the abovedescribed construction, we have provided an arrangement Which quickly, simply and positively will change the load circuits for the vehicle from normal use to use during air raids. All that it is necessary for the driver to do is remove all of the fuses from the fuse box and apply a supplementary cover member D. In order to assure that the cover D is correctly positioned with respect to the fuse block S, it will be noted that the threaded attaching member 21 and the threaded receiving portion 26 are eccentrlcally positioned. Thus, it is only possible to attach cover D' in one manner relatively to the fuse block S.

The invention may take a second form as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this case the fuse block S is also provided with pairs of terminals such as |0|, |01 and |02, |03 between which fuses |05 and |06 may be respectively interconnected through the use of contact springs |03 and |04. In the case of those loads such as the dimmer lights, which are to be still further dimmed for the sake of air protection, the fuse block S is formed with a built in resistor which is to be automatically inserted Vin the circuit upon removal of the fuse. This is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 showing a resistor mounted on a suitable support ||2. The resistor may be permanently interconnected with one of the terminals at one end, such as the terminal |01 as illustrated, and at Vits other end provided with a projecting electrically conductive arm ||3. In this case, the contact spring |03 is formed with a long leg I I4 which will be normally under compression in holding the fuse |05 in place. 'Ihe leg ||4 is so positioned however that upon removal of the fuse |05 the end-of this leg will spring out to contact the conductive extension ||3 so that the circuit between the terminals |0| and |01 instead of being completed through the fuse |05, will now be completed through the resistor thus reducing the applied voltage and dimming the light load |09.

In the case of those load circuits whose characteristics are not to be changed for air protection, such as the circuit for the horn ||0, the fuse block S is not provided with any resistor and the circuit fuse, such as fuse |06, is merely held in place between terminals |02 and |08 by the contact spring |04. It is preferable that a legend be added in a suitable manner to the fuse block S' about such fuses which need not be removed. In Fig. 7 such legend as Do not remove for air protectionl has been added. In the case of those circuits (not shown) whose loads are to be cut out entirely during air raids, such for example, as the main headlights and search light circuits, a simple fuse clip such as illustrated for the horn ||0 will be used, but in this case unaccompanied by a legend. Thus, the driver of the car in case of air raid will be instructed to removeall fuses from the fuse block except those specifically designated. By doing this, he will automatically break the circuits to the lights which are to be entirely extinguished, and add appropriate resistances to the circuits containing lights to be dimmed, and leaves the.

fuses in the circuits unaiiected by air protection regulations.

A study oi' the two forms oi fuse blocks above described will at once reveal that they are simple and4 inexpensive to manufacture, while at the same time they are sure and simple to operate. The driver or the car needs not be familiar with the particular characteristics of all of the electrical load circuits for the vehicle, but it instructions are followed in both cases the electrical system will be automatically placed in a condition necessary for proper air protection.

The invention is obviously capable of many modincations, apparent to those skilled in this art. Die number of circuits to be protected will?? vary in individual cases and the i'use blocks can be changed to meet the condition met, so long as the principles or the present invention are followed. In the iorm of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. the added member need not necessarilybeacover but obviouslymaybe a` member inserted in any manner, i'or example, aninsertwhichisadaptedtobeprotectedbya still further cover.

Itwillalsobeobvious thatthetuseblock ar rangement described above may be used for stationaryloadsystemsaswellasthoseuponvehicles of all character.

Accordingly, the invention is not intended to belimitedtothetwoformsshowmwhichare'to be understood as illustrative and not as limiting. as various changes in constructions and arrangementmaybemade,allcomingwithinthescope of the claims which follow.

We claim:

Laiuseblockhavlngapluralit'yoisetsoi'io 2. The combination according to claim 1, in

combination with circuit shunting means electrically interconnected between certain pairs of said circuit completing contacts.

3. The combination according to claim 1, in combination with voltage reducing means electrically interconnected between certain pairs or said circuit completing contacts.

4. The combination according to claim 1, in combination with auxiliary fuse means electrically interconnected between certain of said pairs of circuit completing contacts.

5. The combination according to claim 1, in combination with a voltage reducing resistor electrically interconnected between certain of said pairs or circuit completing contacts.

6. The combination according to claim 1, in combination with means for attaching said cover to said block in a iixed predetermined relationship.

7. In an electrical distribution system or the classI wherein a plurality o! loads are supplied from a source ot power through ruses. one serially connected with each load, the combination of a base having a plurality oi pairs of terminals, releasable means for mounting said ruses between said terminals, and a cover adapted to be placeduponsaidbase.saidcoverhavingoneor more pairs of contacting arms adapted to establish contacts with corresponding pairs o! terminalsuponsaid base,andoneormoreresis tances respectively connected across said contactingarmawherebyuponremovalotsaidmsesand tbeadditionotsaidcovencurrentismppliedto oneormoreofsaidlcadsthroughsaidresistances.

8. The combination according to claim 7. in which auxiliary nues are connected across cer- `tainorsaidcontactingai-nm,vrlilerehvyupounemaval or said fuses and the addition ci said cover-.currentissuppliedtocertainoisaidlcads throughresbtancesandtotheotherotsaidlca 9.1mm toclalm'hln according whichcertaindaaidlcadscomprlselightaomces whicharetobedimmedbytheinsertioncfnid resistances.

KARL m. KARL m VOI-m1', 

